Private funeral for cricket legend Shane Warne

Shane Warne’s family and friends have attended a private funeral in his hometown of Melbourne to pay their respects to the cricket legend.

Arne’s three children, parents and friends – including retired Test captains Mark Taylor and Allan Border and former England skipper Michael Vaughan – were among the 80 or so guests at Sunday’s service.

Warne, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, died on March 4 while vacationing with friends on the island of Samui in southern Thailand.

An autopsy revealed that the 52-year-old died of a suspected heart attack.

His body was transferred from Bangkok to Melbourne just over a week ago.

A state memorial at the Melbourne Cricket Ground – the site of many of Warne’s legendary bowling moments, including a hat-trick against England in 1994 and his 700th Test wicket on Boxing Day 2006 – takes place on March 30 and is open to the public.

The site’s Great Southern Stand will also be renamed in his honor.